Pontcanna Cafe CannaDeli Devastated by Break-in Amid Spate of Commercial Burglaries

A beloved independent cafe in Pontcanna, Cardiff, has been left reeling after a smash-and-grab burglary cost the business a month’s worth of hard-earned profits. CannaDeli, situated on Kings Road, was targeted during the late evening of Sunday, November 16, 2025. Thieves shattered the deli's custom glass door, grabbed the cash register till along with its wiring, and fled within seconds.

The Financial Impact of the Crime

Tom Roberts, the 28-year-old owner of CannaDeli, arrived at the property on Monday morning to discover the wreckage. Roberts stated that the custom glass door will cost £500 to replace—an expense he is legally required to cover under the terms of the building lease. This repair bill, combined with the loss of a £70 float left in the register, matches the typical monthly profit of the deli in the current challenging economic climate.

"To have somebody just steal what you achieve in a month, just gone in a minute, it's just heartbreaking," Roberts explained. "In hospitality these days, we're lucky if we make £500 profit in a month. Our margins are that tight, and it's every hospitality business around me. Even if a fridge breaks down and you have to call a maintenance guy, the cost is astronomical."

Fears of a Serial Burglar in Canton and Pontcanna

The raid on CannaDeli is not an isolated incident. South Wales Police have confirmed they are investigating a spate of commercial burglaries affecting both Canton and Pontcanna. Authorities believe that "one or two individuals" are responsible for the series of break-ins due to the similar methods used in each offence. Among other businesses targeted, the nearby Burger Boyz on Cowbridge Road East was also broken into recently, with a thief forcing entry and stealing cash.

Chief Inspector Stuart McDean of South Wales Police commented:

"Being a victim of burglary, whether it’s your home, your business, or where you work is a traumatic experience and we are working hard to put a stop to this recent rise in commercial burglaries. We believe that one or two people are responsible because of the similarities in the offences. We would ask people to be vigilant of anyone seen hanging around businesses or retail premises during the early hours of the morning."

Community Angered by Rising Insecurity

Roberts noted that the local neighborhood has been deeply shaken by the spike in thefts, with residents and business owners reporting regular occurrences of smashed car windows, stolen tools from builders' vans, and break-ins on construction sites. While Roberts waited for a crime scene investigator to arrive, he ultimately had to board up the door and open the deli for business on Tuesday morning to avoid losing further revenue.